Yellowstone National Park

Only A Day

To make the most of your day, start out at one of the five visitor centers sprinkled throughout the five regions, or countries, of the park. Maps, books, relevant park updates and information specialists are available to answer your questions before you set out on an adventure-filled day in the park! Yellowstone comprises more than 2 million acres (larger than Delaware and Rhode Island combined)—plan ahead to make the most of your experience.

If you’re looking for an easy way to tour the most popular sights in the park, try the Yellowstone in a Day tour, a full-day interpretive motorcoach tour. You may see a variety of wildlife along the 141-mile route. The road passes Mammoth Hot Springs and the Upper Geyser Basin, home of Old Faithful. It also crosses the Continental Divide to Yellowstone Lake and then winds through wild meadows on its way to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

A more leisurely option—one that leaves you plenty of time to get out of your car and walk a nature trail or have lunch at one of the lodges—is to take the Circle of Fire tour, which travels along the lower portion of the Grand Loop Road. Sit back and enjoy the landscapes and wildlife as your knowledgeable guide lets you in on Yellowstone’s fascinating story. Please call (307) 344-7311 or visit any hotel front desk for information or to make reservations.

Or try a combination of both—individual outdoor exploration supplemented by a partial day or evening Historic Yellow Bus tour. Step back in time and view the park from a past perspective by touring in a luxurious, refurbished yellow bus that toured Yellowstone in the 1930s.

If you want to see the park on your own, visit Hayden and Lamar Valley to search for wildlife or spend some time exploring the Upper Geyser Basin. Yellowstone possesses close to 60 percent of the world’s geysers and the Geyser Basin is home to the most in the park, including world famous Old Faithful. Hop out of the car and trek around the one square mile trail that showcases more than 150 hydrothermal features, including numerous hot springs and a recently developed mudpot! While you’re there take a few minutes to check out the Old Faithful Inn, which has been welcoming guests to the park for more than 100 years.

With 950 miles of trails, wilderness envelops Yellowstone’s visitors. Head into the backcountry and take a step back in time. Stop at a visitor center for suggestions and don’t forget to pack extra food and water. Hit the trails and have some fun!